Support and hair covering for ear-phones



May l2, 1936. E, P. DONOHER SUPPORT AND HAIR COVERING FOR EARPHONES Filed Dec. ll, 1934 IN VENTOR Patented May 12, 193e y 2,040,246

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l SUPPORT AND HAIR COVERING FOR EAR-PHONES Edith P. Donoher, Salt Lake City, Utah Application December 11, 1934, Serial No. '757,053

Claims. (Cl. 181-25) The present invention relates to improvements employed to form this pocket although, I do not in acoustics and has reference more particularly Wish to limit myself to the manner in which the to an auricle adapted to be worn upon the person pocket may be constructed. As clearly shown in of those whose hearing is defective, the auricle the drawing, the pocket is open only at its for- 5 aiding such partially deaf persons to hear more ward end.

distinctly. An ear trumpet or auricle denoted generally The primary object of the present invention is by the numeral 5 is removably arranged within to provide a hair covering for earphones or the pocket 2 so that the bell or receiver portion auricles, so that the earphones will not be visible of the trumpet is positioned adjacent the open While being worn, the hair covering attachment forward end of the pocket and the laterally exl0 having means associated therewith for supporttending tip 6 associated with the smaller end of ing the earphones or auricles in position. the horn of the earphone is disposed through a Another important object of the invention is to suitable opening provided therefor in the rear side provide a support and hair covering for an ear- 4 of the pocket 2 also adjacent the open forward phone of the above-mentioned character which end of said pocket. 15 can be readily and easily attached to or removed The construction of the ear trumpet or auricle from the head of the wearer, the device causing per se is specifically disclosed in another applicano discomfort to the wearer when attached. tion and therefore, a further detailed description A still further object of the invention is to of the earphone or auricle is believed unnecessary provide a hair covering for an earphone wherein in the instant case. 20

human or artificial hair, matching the hair of The tip 6 is adapted to extend into the passage the person using the earphone, is employed as a of the ear, the outer end of the tip being open to covering for the earphone, means being associated permit the sound waves entering the passage of with the covering to facilitate the reception and the ear, from which passage said sound waves support of an earphone or auricle and further travel through the petromastoid portion of the 25 permitting the device to be supported in proper temporal bone.

position on the head of the wearer, the human Forming a salient part of the present invenhair covering concealing the earphone so that the tion is the ear covering 'l that is applied to the same is not visible while being worn. outer face of the pocket 2 in any suitable manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present Preferably, ventilated hair work, natural or arti- 30 invention will become apparent from the felleW- ncial hair is employed as the covering material ing description when taken in connection with for the pocket to match the hair of the wearer the accompanying drawing. of the device. The hair completely covers the In the drawing, wherein like references desgouter side face of the pocket 2 and extends beyond 3,3 nate corresponding parts throughout the several the marginal edges.

' views: A hair fastener of any well known type is se- Fgllle 1 is a Side eleValOD Showing the hail cured to the outer face of the pocket 2 in any covering attached to the head of the wearer and suitable manner. This hair fastening unit 8 may concealing the earphone; extend in any position with respect to the pocket .40 FigureZis an elevational view of the pocket for and the purpose thereof will be presently d e- 40 the earphone and the hair covering therefor, look- Scribe@ A Similar hair fastening unir, 9 is Se.. ing at the irme' or rear Side tn ereof? and cured to the rear side of the pocket 2 adjacent Flgure 3 1S a' transverse Sectlon taken approx' the closed end thereof and as is clearly shown in imately on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 showing the Figure 2 of the drawing. This hair fastening unit relationship of the several parts with respect to 9 may also be disposed at any desired angle. In

g edallgne or auncle arranged m the pocket of the instant illustration, I have shown the hair In the drawing wherein for the purpose of il fastener in the form of a barrette, although I do lustration is shown the preferred embodiment of not Wfsh '501mm myself 501915 t0 use 0f s uch type my invention, the numeral I designates generally 0f hall" fastener-' IU may bea Clampplm 001mb, 50 my improved device, same comprising an elon- Spring, O1 any deVlCe Whlh Wlll 11016. hall SeCllIelY- gated' chamber or pocket 2 formed of any suit- All clamps may be attached either to covering or able fabric material. to the auricle.

This pocket comprises a front side 3 and a The hair fastening units are preferably secured rear side 4. One piece of double net is preferably in their respective positions by stitching, although 55 any other suitable securing means may be provided to attach the clamps to the pocket or auricle.

I wish also at this time to mention that if desired, the bell or mouth of the earphone A may be formed with a series of small openings to facilitate securing of the mouth of the earphone or auricle to the open end of the pocket 2 by stitching. A net or hair arrangement may also cover the mouth of the earphone.

In use, the earphone or auricle A is positioned or secured within the pocket 2 in a manner as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawing or in any other` angle on the head. The tip 6 is inserted in the canal of the ear and the device is secured against the head of the wearer by arranging strands of the wearers hair over the device and securing such strands to the hair fastener 8. In a similar manner, some of the strands of the wearers hair are brought to the rear end portion of the device and are held by the hair fastener 9. The hair fasteners 8 and 9 will positively support the earphone and the covering therefor in proper position on the head of the wearer and the hair covering 1, being of the same color as the natural hair of the wearer, the earphone and its covering will be entirely concealed from View and this without presenting any unsightly appearance.

By employing the barrettes, combs, clamps, pins, etc., B and 9 to support the device in position against the ear, the use of head bands to support the earphone is obviated.

If desired, however, a head band may be employed to support the earphone and its covering in addition to the hair fasteners and to this end. any appropriate separable fastening means may be associated with the free end of the head band and the inside side face of the pocket 2. The head band is a flat spring steel band, 1A, inch wide to extend over the crown of the head and is adjustable in length. Each end of the band may have a screw hole for attaching the same to the outside of the auricle permitting adjustment of the auricle to any angle at side of head. The lower end of the band is insertable in a pocket in the covering, thus preventing the band from slipping too far forward or backward on the head.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated one position of the earphone and covering therefor in dotted lines and there is further shown in this particular figure, one position that the device assumes when being worn and the manner n which the hair of the person Wearing the device actually conceals the earphone and its covering.

The hair-line is left for the individual wearer to select. It may be fringe, or curls or any other iinish and may be of any length desired.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device for supporting an earphone, a member adapted to receive and support an earphone, hair fastening elements on opposite sides of said member for clamping engagement with the hair cf the wearer to removably support the device in any position against the ear.

2. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to receive and support an earphone, hair fastening elements on opposite sides of said member for clamping engagement with the hair of the wearer to removably support the device in position against the ear, and a hair covering carried by the member for concealing the device and the earphone therein when in use.

3. In a device of the class described, a fabric pocket forming member adapted to entirely receive and conceal an earphone, hair fastening elements on opposite sides of the pocket forming member for clamping engagement with the strands of the hair of the wearer to removably :a support the pocket forming member and the earphone therein in position against the ear of the person.

4. In a device of the class described, a fabric pocket forming member adapted to receive an y earphone, hair fastening elements for clamping engagement with the strands of the hair of the wearer to removably support the pocket forming member and the earphone therein in position against the ear of the person, and a hair covering applied to the outer side of said pocket adapted the hair of the wearer to removably support the pocket and the earphone in any position against the ear of the person, and a hair covering applied to the outer side of the pocket and adapted to match the hair of the wearer for concealing the pocket and the earphone from view when the device is in use.

EDITH P. DONOHER. 

